A Body of Practical Divinity

3. His Subtlety in tempting was, that he sets upon Eve first, 1. Because he thought she was less able to resist. Satan did break over the Hedge where it was weakest: he knew he could more easily insinuate and wind himself into her by a Temptation. An expert Solder when he is to Storm or enter a Castle, observes warily where there is a Breach, or how he may enter with more Facility: so did Satan the weaker Vessel. 2. He tempted Eve first, because he knew if once he could prevail with her, she would easily draw her Husband. Thus the Devil handed over a Temptation to Job by his Wife, Job 2.9. Curse God and die. Agrippina poisoned the Emperor Commodus with Wine in a perfumed Cup; the Cup being perfumed and given him by his Wife, it was the less suspected. Satan knew a Temptation coming to Adam from his Wife, would be more prevailing, and would be less suspected: O bitter! sometimes Relations prove Temptations: A Wife may be a Snare, when she dissuades her Husband from doing his Duty, or enticeth him to Evil: Ahab sold himself to work wickedness, whom his wife Jezebel stirred up, 1 Kin. 21.25. She blew the Coals and made his Sin flame out the more. Satan's Subtlety was in tempting Adam by his Wife, he thought she would draw him to sin.

3. His Subtilty in tempting was, that he sets upon Eve first, 1. Because he thought she was less able to resist. Satan did break over the Hedge where it was weakest: he knew he could more easily insinuate and wind himself into her by a Temptation. An expert Soulder when he is to Storm or enter a Castle, observes warily where there is a Breach, or how he may enter with more Facility: so did Satan the weaker Vessel. 2. He tempted Eve first, because he knew if once he could prevail with her, she would easily draw her Husband. Thus the Devil handed over a Temptation to Iob by his Wife, Job 2.9. Curse God and die. Agrippina poison'd the Emperour Commodus with Wine in a perfum'd Cup; the Cup being perfumed and given him by his Wife, it was the less suspected. Satan knew a Temptation coming to Adam from his Wife, would be more prevailing, and would be less suspected: O bitter! sometimes Relations prove Temptations: A Wife may be a Snare, when she disswades her Husband from doing his Duty, or enticeth him to Evil: Ahab sold himself to work wickedness, whom his wife Iezebel stired up,